whats up with the new 400ex??

[Skannes]

ok i dont no about you guys but i hate the new plastics to the new 2005 400ex. I personally think they need to stay the same or have both new and old plastics. What do you guys think?

[sharkinthepool]

I have the old style on a 2000 and am looking to get some of the new! Progress is good, sometimes. The new style will be more racer friendly for "race cutting". You just remove the sides.

To each is own though. That is just my opinion.

[Bush0102]

I have a 2000. If you have a 2005 and dont like it, i'll trade you my front plastics for yours!:D haha i doubt it would work. But i really like the look of the '05

[Mikesamillion]

from what i have read the only thing that changed on the 05s are the plastics. should bolt right up.

[Destructo]

Originally posted by Mikesamillion
from what i have read the only thing that changed on the 05s are the plastics. should bolt right up.

And adding a reverse gear...

[spr-scott]

I bought one for my wife on Sept. 22. She likes the yellow color. I've ridden almost all the years of the 400ex, and the only difference the say is the body & reverse gear. I have noticed though that it has more power than any other one's. It seems to take off better than the other's. They also dropped a tooth on the front sprocket. They now run a 14 tooth on the front. I will say that the reverse is nice to have.

[Destructo]

Originally posted by spr-scott
I bought one for my wife on Sept. 22. She likes the yellow color. I've ridden almost all the years of the 400ex, and the only difference the say is the body & reverse gear. I have noticed though that it has more power than any other one's. It seems to take off better than the other's. They also dropped a tooth on the front sprocket. They now run a 14 tooth on the front. I will say that the reverse is nice to have.

I took mine up to the cabin in VA to ride some one day last week and was going to go down this little hill but realized it was steeper than I thought, well, I had to have my brother help me push it back hehe, it was a shale pile pit so the ground was very loose, sure would have been nice to have reverse in that situation. I thought about buying a 300ex instead of a 400 just to get reverse, but glad I didn't i'm used to no reverse from riding bikes anyway.

[parkers30]

Originally posted by sharkinthepool
I have the old style on a 2000 and am looking to get some of the new! Progress is good, sometimes. The new style will be more racer friendly for "race cutting". You just remove the sides.

To each is own though. That is just my opinion.

from what I understand they dont unbolt, looks like they worked the 450r hood and lights into the ex front plastic, I'll stick with what I have

[speedracer400]

the new 400 looks hott ireally like it alot since i can't afford a 450 thats the next best thing.ive already thought about trying to make the front end fit

[DaleJrFan]

i like the new 05 plastics look, it looks a little more aggressive. does anyone know if the 05 will bolt up on any other models?

[Skannes]

alright we all have our oppiniouns but i hate them they look sporty but the 400 pritty much started the revolusion of the four strokes and they need to keep them the same. I think it would be pritty cool if they had both old and new plastics and if they do maybe make different colors besides yellow and red, maybe black or gray.

[spr-scott]

I know the frame is identical, from what I can tell. The metal mounting brackets might be different on the front end. On thanksgiving my friend will be bringing his 04 over and I'll look more closely at the two of them and let you know...

[Demoniac]

Originally posted by spr-scott
I bought one for my wife on Sept. 22. She likes the yellow color. I've ridden almost all the years of the 400ex, and the only difference the say is the body & reverse gear. I have noticed though that it has more power than any other one's. It seems to take off better than the other's. They also dropped a tooth on the front sprocket. They now run a 14 tooth on the front. I will say that the reverse is nice to have.
that means that an 04 might beat an 05 in a drag race, but the 05 would be pretty fun with that new sprocket, but that's just me, sprockets are only 7-20 dollars anyway, something anyone could do, the sprocket also makes it take off better, is the powerband more even? the 04's weren't nearly as good as a Suzuki Quadsport 400

[TC426EX]

Yeah but too bad the quadsport 400 is worse than the 400ex in every aspect but the liquid cooling and stock power... It gets my vote for one of the worst bikes ever...

[quad]

Originally posted by TC426EX
Yeah but too bad the quadsport 400 is worse than the 400ex in every aspect but the liquid cooling and stock power... It gets my vote for one of the worst bikes ever...
Yeah,ooooooooo k :rolleyes: The Z in my opinion is way better than the EX.I sold my EX to buy a Z.I have no regrets,whatsoever :D IMO,the Z looks much better,more comfortable,more torque,reverse,more efficient engine design (cooling).The ex's tend to use oil very soon after you get them,almost as if the rings are made of aluminum foil.:D Not to mention,my stock z with a yoshi slip on,whooped the chit out of an ex with a full yoshi exhaust,K&N filter,pro flow kit,and jetted.:macho

[397ccEX]

The new plastic is nice but I like my 2002 plastic too

[86R]

I rode one and didnt like the fact that it wont start in reverse (safety feature?), its soo cold blooded and reverse is the first thing most people use to back out of the trailer or garage.

[spr-scott]

Alright here's the deal on swapping the front ends....In order to mount the new front end you'll need to weld 2 small brackets on your frame where the main bend on the top of the front frame just under you headlights. You'll also have to drill two holes in the front crossmenber under the front of your plastic near the nose of your bike. Other than these two areas eveything else lines up. Youll need to buy the front fenders, light housing, and support brakes for the light and another one that mounts above the light, to the 2 new brackets you'll have to make. I have pics of both bikes and the differences if anybody wants to see them. My friend is going to be having me change his bike over once he see's how easy it will be.I could be hard to find the parts for a while though. Most dealerships cant get any replacement parts for the 05's yet. I've tried.

[cals400ex]

Originally posted by spr-scott
Alright here's the deal on swapping the front ends....In order to mount the new front end you'll need to weld 2 small brackets on your frame where the main bend on the top of the front frame just under you headlights. You'll also have to drill two holes in the front crossmenber under the front of your plastic near the nose of your bike. Other than these two areas eveything else lines up. Youll need to buy the front fenders, light housing, and support brakes for the light and another one that mounts above the light, to the 2 new brackets you'll have to make. I have pics of both bikes and the differences if anybody wants to see them. My friend is going to be having me change his bike over once he see's how easy it will be.I could be hard to find the parts for a while though. Most dealerships cant get any replacement parts for the 05's yet. I've tried.


your already breaking stuff???:eek2: :D


hey, how does your bike compare to a 04-previous when racing?

[n00b on a 400ex]

they shoulda worked on the engine, get it up to z400 or better stats.

[spr-scott]

The 05 seems to pull a little harder than the 04. But for the most part they ride the same. I can pull wheelies easier on the 05. Most of this is due to the 14 tooth front sproket that comes stock with the 05. But it still pulls much greater than my friends 02 with a 14 tooth front. I have never had it on a racetrack though we ride in the mountains so we only open them up on the gravel roads. I am able to stay with my friends 04 Z. Whick I've heard is capable of smoking a 400ex. Havent seen this with my 05 yet.

[akorndog47]

I have an '05 400ex, I love it! It runs great but is a bit cold blooded. Its got plenty of power and pulls hard all the time. The reverse is really handy and works great, but I dont like the fact that it cant be restarted while in reverse. Is there a way to unhook this feature? I liked the old plastic but it was getting to be time for a change. I do like the sharper lines of the new plastic. I was riding a raptor, but the 400ex feels a lot better to me, much more stable and very responsive. All in all its a great machine for me and I love it!

[2002400ex]

Does the '05 come in yellow?

[TRAIL]

of course

[EPDP99]

also welcome to the site akorndog.....

[250EXking]

I like both sets of plastics, but I'm sure gonna miss the Bug Eyes look.:(

[zdude400]

i dont like to dis the 450r but it looks like a ladybug the the regular plastic on the 400ex looks much better

oh and u might have to bend your plastic mounts for the 05 plastic to fit ur 04

[Rico]

The 400ex will always be known for the Bug Eye look which I like. I think they should have left the TRX450 Plastic on itself and left the 400ex alone..

:macho :scary: :chinese:

All though I do like the looks of some of the TRX450's with certain hoods...:cool:

[400Rider022]

i have an 05 400ex and love it:cool:

[big papa plump]

I don't care for the new plastics. Now the new 400ex just looks like alot of the other styles. It lost its originality and good looks. Now it just looks like another space alien type from the front end. You can hardly tell it from the new 450. Don't get me wrong, the new 450 is great, but it will never be the 400ex, no matter what the plastics look like. Somestimes change is good, but not always.

[RideRed250ex]

I think they should both have thier own seperate identities why make the 400 look like the 450... thats the 450's thing... I've never heard anyone complain about the looks of the 400 so why change it now? If change anything give it some more power!
Reverse was a great idea... I havnt seen one or been to the dealership yet only pics. but how is the reverse gear engaged? Easy like the 250ex or hard like the 300?

[397ccEX]

How is that plastic suppost to work on the old ones?
the lights are in different spots

[spr-scott]

Here's a nice side by side pic: 2004/2005http://predator.bikepics.com/pics/honda-400ex-05-bikepics-279835.jpg

[400exrider707]

Originally posted by Rico
The 400ex will always be known for the Bug Eye look which I like. I think they should have left the TRX450 Plastic on itself and left the 400ex alone..

:macho :scary: :chinese:

All though I do like the looks of some of the TRX450's with certain hoods...:cool:

I totally agree. The 450s look real good with a nice hood on it.

[bbhondas]

i was looking at a z400 at the local dealership today and they look alittle tipsy and top heavy, never ridden one?, are they?

[Eddiesanders250]

I hate the old 400 plastics the bus lights. that looks so bad. but the new ones are cool just its stupid that they are exactly like the 450. you can hardly tell the difference from a ways away.

[Eddiesanders250]

the Z's are alright but they ride too high and they are a little tipsy but not after an extended axle and a arms. plus once you get a pipe and re jet it you almost have to get an extended swing arm there so weelie happy.

[spr-scott]

After having mine for 4 mos. now, it is easy to tell the difference between the two of them. None of the bike is the same except the headlight and hood.